BOOK  OF  ROMANCE 


EDITED  BY 

ANDREW   LANG 


6  3  c  * 

WITH  NUMEROUS  ILLUSTRATIONS  BY  H.  J.  FORD 


LONGMANS,    GREEN,    AND    CO. 

91  AJO>  93  FIFTH  AVENUE,  NEW  YORK 

LOSDON  AXD  BOMBAY 

1903 

AU  rights  reserved 

*     1907 


COPYRIGHT,  1902, 

BY 
LONGMANS,   GREEN,  AND  CO. 

First  Edition,  September,  1902. 
Keprinted,  October,  1908. 


Nortooofc  Press 

J.  S.  Gushing  &  Co.  -  Berwick  &  Smith  Co. 
Norwood,  Mass.,  U.S.A. 


r 

I  u^ 


PREFACE 

IT  is  to  be  supposed  that  children  do  not  read  Prefaces ; 
these  are  Bluebeard's  rooms,  which  they  are  not  curious 
to  unlock.  A  few  words  may  therefore  be  said  about  the 
Romances  contained  in  this  book.  In  the  editor's  opinion, 
romances  are  only  fairy  tales  grown  up.  The  whole  mass 
of  the  plot  and  incident  of  romance  was  invented  by 
nobody  knows  who,  nobody  knows  when,  nobody  knows 
where.  Almost  every  people  has  the  Cinderella  story, 
with  all  sorts  of  variations :  a  boy  hero  in  place  of  a  girl 
heroine,  a  beast  in  place  of  a  fairy  godmother,  and  so  on. 
The  Zunis,  an  agricultural  tribe  of  New  Mexico,  have  a 
version  in  Avhich  the  moral  turns  out  to  be  against  poor 
Cinderella,  who  conies  to  an  ill  end.  The  Red  Indians 
have  the  tale  of  Orpheus  and  Eurydice,  told  in  a  very 
touching  shape,  but  without  the  music.  On  the  other 
hand,  the  negroes  in  the  States  have  the  Orpheus  tale, 
adapted  to  plantation  life,  in  a  form  which  is  certainly 
borrowed  from  Europeans.  This  version  was  sent  to  me 
some  years  ago  by  Mr.  Barnet  Phillips,  Brooklyn,  New 
York,  and  I  give  it  here  for  its  curiosity.  If  the  proper 
names,  Jim  Orpus  and  Dicey,  had  not  been  given,  we 
might  not  feel  absolutely  certain  that  the  story  was 
borrowed.  It  is  a  good  example  of  adaptation  from  the 
heroic  age  of  Greece  to  the  servile  age  of  Africans. 

DICEY  AXD  ORPUS 

Dat  war  eber  so  long  ago,  'cause  me  granrnammy  tell 
me  so.  It  h'aint  no  white-folks  yarn  —  no  Sah.  Gall 
she  war  call  Dicey,  an'  she  war  borned  on  de  plantation. 


vi  PREFACE 

Whar  Jim  Orpus  kura  from,  granmammy  she  disremem- 
ber.  He  war  a  boss-fiddler,  he  war,  an'  jus'  that  power- 
ful, dat  when  de  mules  in  de  cotton  field  listen  to  um, 
dey  no  budge  in  de  furrer.  Orpus  he  neber  want  no 
mess  of  fish,  ketched  wid  a  angle.  He  just  take  him 
fiddle  an'  fool  along  de  branch,  an'  play  a  tune,  an'  up 
dey  comes,  an'  he  cotch  'em  in  he  hans.  He  war  mighty 
sot  on  Dicey,  an'  dey  war  married  all  proper  an'  reg'lar. 
Hit  war  so  long  ago,  dat  de  railroad  war  a  bran-new 
spick  an'  span  ting  in  dose  days.  Dicey  once  she  lounge 
'round  de  track,  'cause  she  tink  she  hear  Orpus  a  fiddlin' 
in  de  fur-fur-away.  Onyways  de  hengine  smash  her. 
Den  Jim  Orpus  he  took  on  tumble,  an'  when  she  war 
buried,  he  sot  him  down  on  de  grave,  an'  he  fiddle  an' 
he  fiddle  till  most  yo'  heart  was  bruk. 

An'  he  play  so  long  dat  de  groun'  crummle  (crumble) 
an'  sink,  an'  nex'  day,  when  de  peoples  look  for  Jim 
Orpus,  dey  no  find  um ;  oney  big-hole  in  de  lot,  an' 
nobody  never  see  Jim  Orpus  no  mo'.  An'  dey  do  say, 
dat  ef  yo'  go  inter  a  darky's  burial-groun',  providin'  no 
white  man  been  planted  thar,  an'  yo'  clap  yo'  ear  to  de 
groun',  yo'  can  hear  Jim's  fiddle  way  down  deep  belo', 
a  folloin'  Dicey  fru'  de  Ian'  of  de  Golden  Slippah.1 

The  original  touch,  the  sound  of  Orpus 's  fiddle  heard 
only  in  the  graveyards  of  the  negroes  (like  the  fairy 
music  under  the  fairy  hill  at  Ballachulish),  is  very  re- 
markable. Now  the  Red  Indian  story  has  no  harper, 
and  no  visit  by  the  hero  to  the  land  of  the  dead.  His 
grief  brings  his  wife  back  to  him,  and  he  loses  her  again 
by  breaking  a  taboo,  as  Orpheus  did  by  looking  back,  a 
thing  always  forbidden.  Thus  we  do  not  know  whether 
or  not  the  Red  Indian  version  is  borrowed  from  the 
European  myth,  probably  enough  it  is  not.  But  in  no 

1  Mr.  Phillips,  writing  in  1896,  says  that  the  tale  was  told  him 
by  a  plantation  hand,  thirty  years  ago,  '  long  before  the  Uncle 
Remus  period,' 


PREFACE  vii 

case — not  even  when  the  same  plot  and  incidents  occur 
among  Egyptians  and  the  Central  Australian  tribes,  or 
among  the  frosty  Samoyeds  and  Eskimo,  the  Samoaus, 
the  Andainanese,  the  Zulus,  and  the  Japanese,  as  well 
as  among  Celts  and  ancient  Greeks — can  we  be  absolutely 
certain  that  the  story  has  not  been  diffused  and  borrowed, 
in  the  backward  of  time.  Thus  the  date  and  place  of 
origin  of  these  eternal  stories,  the  groundwork  of  ballads 
and  popular  tales,  can  never  be  ascertained.  The  oldest 
known  version  may  be  found  in  the  literature  of  Egypt 
or  Chaldaea,  but  it  is  an  obvious  fallacy  to  argue  that 
the  place  of  origin  must  be  the  place  where  the  tale  was 
first  written  down  in  hieroglyph  or  cuneiform  characters. 

There  the  stories  are:  they  are  as  common  among 
the  remotest  savages  as  among  the  peasants  of  Hungary, 
France,  or  Assynt.  They  bear  all  the  birth-marks  of  an 
early  society,  with  the  usual  customs  and  superstitions 
of  man  in  such  a  stage  of  existence.  Their  oldest  and 
least  corrupted  forms  exist  among  savages,  and  people 
who  do  not  read  and  write.  But  when  reading  and 
writing  and  a  class  of  professional  minstrels  and  tellers 
of  tales  arose,  these  men  invented  no  new  plots,  but 
borrowed  the  plots  and  incidents  of  the  world-old  popu- 
lar stories.  They  adapted  these  to  their  own  condition 
of  society,  just  as  the  plantation  negroes  adapted  Orpheus 
and  Eurydice.  They  elevated  the  nameless  heroes  and 
heroines  into  Kings,  Queens,  and  Knights,  Odysseus, 
Arthur,  Charlemagne,  Diarmid,  and  the  rest  They  took 
an  ancient  popular  tale,  known  all  over  the  earth,  and 
attributed  the  adventures  of  the  characters  to  historical 
persons,  like  Charlemagne  and  his  family,  or  to  Saints, 
for  the  legends  of  early  Celtic  Saints  are  full  of  fairy-tale 
materials.  Characters  half  historic,  half  fabulous,  like 
Arthur,  were  endowed  with  fairy  gifts,  and  inherited  the 
feats  of  nameless  imaginary  heroes. 

The  results  of  this  uncritical  literary  handling  of 
elements  really  popular  were  the  national  romances  of 


viii  PREFACE 

Arthur,  of  Charlemagne,  of  Sigurd,  or  of  Etzel.  The 
pagan  legends  were  Christianised,  like  that  of  Beowulf ; 
they  were  expanded  into  measureless  length,  whole  cycles 
were  invented  about  the  heroic  families;  poets  altered 
the  materials  each  in  his  own  way  and  to  serve  his  own 
purpose,  and  often  to  glorify  his  own  country.  If  the 
Saracens  told  their  story  of  Roland  at  Koncevalles,  it 
would  be  very  different  from  that  of  the  old  Frankish 
chansons  de  geste.  Thus  the  romances  are  a  mixture  of 
popular  tales,  of  literary  invention,  and  of  history  as 
transmitted  in  legend.  To  the  charm  of  fairy  tale  they 
add  the  fascination  of  the  age  of  chivalry,  yet  I  am  not 
sure  but  that  children  will  prefer  the  fairy  tale  pure  and 
simple,  nor  am  I  sure  that  their  taste  would  be  wrong,  if 
they  did. 

In  the  versions  here  offered,  the  story  of  Arthur  is 
taken  mainly  from  Malory's  compilation,  from  sources 
chiefly  French,  but  the  opening  of  the  Graal  story  is 
adapted  from  Mr.  Sebastian  Evans's  'High  History  of 
the  Holy  Graal,'  a  masterpiece  of  the  translator's  art. 
For  permission  to  adapt  this  chapter  I  have  to  thank  the 
kindness  of  Mr.  Evans. 

The  story  of  Eoland  is  from  the  French  Epic,  prob- 
ably of  the  eleventh  century,  but  resting  on  earlier  mate- 
rials, legend  and  ballad.  William  Short  Nose  is  also 
from  the  chanson  de  geste  of  that  hero. 

The  story  of  Diarmid,  ancient  Irish  and  also  current 
among  the  Dalriadic  invaders  of  Argyle,  is  taken  from 
the  translations  in  the  Transactions  of  the  Ossianic 
Society. 

The  story  of  Eobin  Hood  is  from  the  old  English 
ballads  of  the  courteous  outlaw,  whose  feast,  in  Scotland, 
fell  in  the  early  days  of  May.  His  alleged  date  varies 
between  the  ages  of  Eichard  I.  and  Edward  II.,  but  all 
the  labours  of  the  learned  have  thrown  no  light  on  this 
popular  hero. 

A  child  can  see  how  English  Eobin  is,  how  human, 


PREFACE  ix 

and  possible  and  good-humoured  are  his  character  and 
feats,  while  Arthur  is  half  Celtic,  half  French  and 
chivalrous,  and  while  the  deeds  of  the  French  Roland, 
and  of  the  Celtic  Diarmid  are  exaggerated  beyond  the 
possible.  There  is  nothing  of  the  fairylike  in  Robin, 
and  he  has  no  thirst  for  the  Ideal.  Had  we  given  the 
adventures  of  Sir  William  Wallace,  from  Blind  Harry, 
it  would  have  appeared  that  the  Lowland  Scots  could 
exaggerate  like  other  people. 

The  story  of  Wayland  the  Smith  is  very  ancient.  An 
ivory  in  the  British  Museum,  apparently  of  the  eighth 
century,  represents  Wayland  making  the  cups  out  of 
the  skulls.  As  told  here  the  legend  is  adapted  from  the 
amplified  version  by  Oehlenschlager.  Scott's  use  of  the 
story  in  c  Kenilworth  *  will  be  remembered. 

All  the  romances  are  written  by  Mrs.  Lang,  except 
the  story  of  Grettir  the  Strong,  done  by  Mr.  H.  S.  C. 
Everard  from  the  saga  translated  by  Mr.  William  Morris. 

A.  LAXG. 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 


The  Drawing  of  the  Sword   .....        ...        3 

The  Questing  Beast       ........         9 

The  Sword  ExcaKbur  ........       14 

The  Story  of  Sir  Balm          .......       16 

How  the  Round  Table  began         ......      25— 

The  Passing  of  Merlin          .         .         .         .         .         .         .31 

How  Morgan  Le  Fay  tried  to  kill  King  Arthur    ...      33 
What  Beaumains  asked  of  the  King      .....       38 

The  Quest  of  the  Holy  Graal         ......      64  — 

The  right  for  the  Queen        .......     102 

The  Fair  Maid  of  Astolat     .......     113 

Lancelot  and  Guenevere        ......        .132 

The  End  of  it  All        ......        .        .160 

The  Battle  of  Ronceralleg      .         .         .....     177 

The  Pursuit  of  Diarmid        .......     215 

Some  Adventures  of  William  Short  Nose      .        .        .        .253 

Wayland  the  Smith       ........     293 

The  Story  of  Robin  Hood     .......     323 

The  Story  of  Grettir  the  Strong     ......    359 


ILLUSTRA  TIONS 


COLOURED  PLATES 

Lancelot  bears  off  Guenevere  (p.  153)  .         .         .  Frontispiece 

Arthur  meets  the  Lady  of  the  Lake        .                 .  to  face  p.     14 

Lancelot  at  the  Chapel „  77 

Guenevere  and  Sir  Bors „  106 

Lancelot  brings  Guenevere  to  Arthur     .         .         .  ,,  132 

A  lix  kisses  Rainouart „  275 

Slagfid  pursues  the  Wraith  over  the  Mountains      .  „  301 

The  Chariot  of  Freya „  318 

FULL-PAGE  PLATES 

How  Arthur  drew  the  Sword          ....  to  face  p.       4 

Arthur  and  the  Questing  Beast      ....  „  10 

The  Death  of  Balin  and  Balan      .  20 

Merlin  and  Vivien „  31 

Morgan  Le  Fay  casts  away  the  Scabbard  „  34 

Gareth  and  Linet „  42 

Linet  and  the  Black  Knight  ...'..  „  46 

The  Lady  of  Lyonesse  sees  Sir  Gareth  „  54 

Sir  Galahad  opens  the  Tomb  „  72 

Sir  Perch-ale  slays  the  Serpent  „  80 

Lancelot  and  the  Dwarf „  96 

Arthur  and  Guenevere  kiss  before  all  the  People   .  „  108 

Elaine  ties  her  Sleeve  round  Sir  Lancelot's  Helmet  „  116 

The  Black  Barget „  128 

The  Archers  threaten  Lancelot       ....  „  138 


xiv  ILLUSTRATIONS 

Sir  Mordred         . to  face  p.  164 

Excalibur  returns  to  the  Mere        ....          „  168 

Charlemagne         .         . „  178 

Marsile  threatens  Ganelon  with  a  Javelin      .         .           „  184 

Roland  winds  his  Horn  in  the  Valley  of  Roncevalles           „  202 

Grania  questions  the  Druid „  216 

Diarmid  seizes  the  Giant's  Club    ....          „  230 

Diarmid  and  Grania  in  the  Quicken  Tree     .         .           „  236 

The  Death  of  Diarmid           .         .         .         .         .           „  242 

Vivian's  Last  Confession „  256 

The  Lady  Alix  stays  the  Wrath  of  William  Short  „ 

Nose „  27£ 

The  Lady  Gibourc  with  Rainouart  in  the  Kitchen            „  278 

Rainouart  stops  the  Cowards          ....           „  282 

The  Three  Women  by  the  Stream  .         ......           „  294 

Wayland  mocked  by  the  Queen  and  Banvdda         .           „  310 

The  Merman  warns  Banvilda  in  vain    ...           „  314 

'  There  is  pith  in  your  arm,'  said  Robin  Hood        .           „  346 

Robin  Hood  shoots  his  Last  Arrow         ...           „  354 

Grettir  feels  Karr's  Grip „  362 

Grettir  overthrows  Thorir  Redbeard       ...           „  372 

IN  TEXT 

PAGE 

The  Damsel  warns  Sir  Balin 19 

How  Sir  Bors  was  saved  from  killing  his  Brother  ...  89 

Sir  Mador  accuses  Guenevere 104 

Guenevere  sends  her  Page  to  Lancelot  for  Help     .         .         .136 

Lancelot  comes  out  of  Guenevere's  Room        ....  148 

The  Dream  of  Charlemagne 193 

The  Captives :   William  Short  Nose  rides  to  the  Rescue          .  263 

The  Witch  Thurid  cuts  a  Charm  on  the  Log          .        .        .  381 


TALES  OF  THE  ROUND  TABLE 


THE  DRAWING   OF  THE  SWORD 


LOXG,  long  ago,  after  Uther  Pendragon  died,  there  was 
no  King  in  Britain,  and  every  Knight  hoped  to  seize  the 
crown  for  himself.  The  country  was  like  to  fare  ill  when 
laws  were  broken  on  every  side,  and  the  corn  which  was 
to  give  the  poor  bread  was  trodden  underfoot,  and  there 
was  none  to  bring  the  evildoer  to  justice.  Then,  when 
things  were  at  their  worst,  came  forth  Merlin  the  magi- 
cian, and  fast  he  rode  to  the  place  where  the  Arch- 
bishop of  Canterbury  had  his  dwelling.  And  they  took 
counsel  together,  and  agreed  that  all  the  lords  and  gentle- 
men of  Britain  should  ride  to  London  and  meet  on  Christ- 
mas Day,  now  at  hand,  in  the  Great  Church.  So  this 
was  done.  And  on  Christmas  morning,  as  they  left  the 
church,  they  saw  in  the  churchyard  a  large  stone,  and  on 
it  a  bar  of  steel,  and  in  the  steel  a  naked  sword  was  held, 
and  about  it  was  written  in  letters  of  gold,  'Whoso 
pulleth  out  this  sword  is  by  right  of  birth  King  of  Eng- 
land.' They  marvelled  at  these  words,  and  called  for 
the  Archbishop,  and  brought  him  into  the  place  where 
the  stone  stood.  Then  those  Knights  who  fain  would  be 
King  could  not  hold  themselves  back,  and  they  tugged  at 
the  sword  with  all  their  might  ;  but  it  never  stirred.  The 
Archbishop  watched  them  in  silence,  but  when  they  were 
faint  from  pulling  he  spoke  :  '  The  man  is  not  here  who 
shall  lift  out  that  sword,  nor  do  I  know  where  to  find  him. 
But  this  is  my  counsel  —  that  two  Knights  be  chosen, 
good  and  true  men,  to  keep  guard  over  the  sword.' 

Thus  it  was  done.     But  the  lords  and  gentlemen-at- 
3 


4  THE  DRAWING   OF  THE  SWORD 

arms  cried  out  that  every  man  had  a  right  to  try  to  win 
the  sword,  and  they  decided  that  on  New  Year's  Day  a 
tournament  should  be  held,  and  any  Knight  who  would, 
might  enter  the  lists. 

So  on  New  Year's  Day,  the  Knights,  as  their  custom 
was,  went  to  hear  service  in  the  Great  Church,  and 
after  it  was  over  they  met  in  the  field  to  make  ready  for 
the  tourney.  Among  them  was  a  brave  Knight  called 
Sir  Ector,  who  brought  with  him  Sir  Kay,  his  son,  and 
Arthur,  Kay's  foster-brother.  Now  Kay  had  unbuckled 
his  sword  the  evening  before,  and  in  his  haste  to  be  at 
the  tourney  had  forgotten  to  put  it  o'n  again,  and  he 
begged  Arthur  to  ride  back  and  fetch  it  for  him.  But 
when  Arthur  reached  the  house  the  door  was  locked,  for 
the  women  had  gone  out  to  see  the  tourney,  and  though 
Arthur  tried  his  best  to  get  in  he  could  not.  Then  he 
rode  away  in  great  anger,  and  said  to  himself,  '  Kay  shall 
not  be  without  a  sword  this  day.  I  will  take  that  sword 
in  the  churchyard,  and  give  it  to  him ' ;  and  he  galloped 
fast  till  he  reached  the  gate  of  the  churchyard.  Here  he 
jumped  down  and  tied  his  horse  tightly  to  a  tree,  then, 
running  up  to  the  stone,  he  seized  the  handle  of  the 
sword,  and  drew  it  easily  out;  afterwards  he  mounted 
his  horse  again,  and  delivered  the  sword  to  Sir  Kay.  The 
moment  Sir  Kay  saw  the  sword  he  knew  it  was  not  his 
own,  but  the  sword  of  the  stone,  and  he  sought  out  his 
father  Sir  Ector,  and  said  to  him,  '  Sir,  this  is  the  sword 
of  the  stone,  therefore  I  am  the  rightful  King.'  Sir 
Ector  made  no  answer,  but  signed  to  Kay  and  Arthur  to 
follow  him,  and  they  all  three  went  back  to  the  church. 
Leaving  their  horses  outside,  they  entered  the  choir,  and 
here  Sir  Ector  took  a  holy  book  and  bade  Sir  Kay  swear 
how  he  came  by  that  sword.  '  My  brother  Arthur  gave 
it  to  me,'  replied  Sir  Kay.  '  How  did  you  come  by  it  ? ' 
asked  Sir  Ector,  turning  to  Arthur.  '  Sir,'  said  Arthur, 
'  when  I  rode  home  for  my  brother's  sword  I  found  no 
one  to  deliver  it  to  me,  and  as  I  resolved  he  should  not 


THE  DRAWL3TG  OF  THE  SWORD  7 

be  swordless  I  thought  of  the  sword  in  this  stone,  and  I 
polled  it  out.1  '  Were  any  Knights  present  when  you  did 
this  ? '  asked  Sir  Ector.  '  Xo,  none/  said  Arthur.  * '  Then 
it  is  you,7  said  Sir  Ector,  *  who  are  the  rightful  King  of 
this  land,'  'But  why  am  I  the  King?'  inquired  Arthur. 
*  Because/  answered  Sir  Ector,  'this  is  an  enchanted 
sword,  and  no  man  could  draw  it  but  he  who  was  born  a 
King.  Therefore  put  the  sword  back  into  the  stone,  and 
let  me  see  you  take  it  out'  'That  is  soon  done/  said 
Arthur,  replacing  the  sword,  and  Sir  Ector  himself  tried 
to  draw  it,  but  he  could  not.  4Xow  it  is  your  turn,'  he 
said  to  Sir  Kay,  but  Sir  Kay  fared  no  better  than  his 
father,  though  he  togged  with  all  his  might  and  main, 
'Xow  yon,  Arthur/  and  Arthur  pulled  it  out  as  easily  as 
if  it  had  been  lying  in  its  sheath,  and  as  he  did  so  Sir 
Ector  and  Sir  Kay  sank  on  their  knees  before  him.  -Why 
do  you,  my  father  and  brother,  kneel  to  me?7  asked 
Arthur  in  surprise.  ''Say,  nay,  my  lord,'  answered  Sir 
Ector,  £I  was  never  your  father,  though  till  today  I  did 
not  know  who  your  father  really  was.  You  are  the  son 
of  TJther  Pendragon,  and  you  were  brought  to  me  when 
you  were  born  by  Merlin  himself,  who  promised  that 
when  the  time  came  I  should  know  from  whom  you 
sprang.  And  now  it  has  been  revealed  to  me.'  But 
when  Arthur  heard  that  Sir  Ector  was  not  his  father,  he 
wept  bitterly.  'If  I  am  King/  he  said  at  last,  «ask 
what  yon  will,  and  I  shall  not  fail  you.  For  to  you,  and 
to  my  lady  and  mother,  I  owe  more  than  to  anyone  in 
the  world,  for  she  loved  me  and  treated  me  as  her  son.' 
'Sir/  replied  Sir  Ector,  'I  only  ask  that  you  will  make 
your  foster-brother,  Sir  Kay,  Seneschal1  of  all  your 
lands.'  'That  I  will  readily/  answered  Arthur,  'and 
while  he  and  I  live  no  other  shall  fill  that  office.7 

Sir  Ector  then  bade  them  seek  out  the  Archbishop 
with  him,  and  they  told  him  all  that  had  happened  con- 
cerning the  sword,  which  Arthur  had  left  standing  in  the 

stewanL 


8  THE  DRAWING   OF  THE  SWORD 

stone.  And  on  the  Twelfth  Day  the  Knights  and  Barons 
came  again,  but  none  could  draw  it  out  but  Arthur. 
When  they  saw  this,  many  of  the  Barons  became  angry 
and  cried  out  that  they  would  never  own  a  boy  for  King 
whose  blood  was  no  better  than  their  own.  So  it  was 
agreed  to  wait  till  Candlemas,  when  more  Knights  might 
be  there,  and  meanwhile  the  same  two  men  who 
had  been  chosen  before  watched  the  sword  night  and 
day ;  but  at  Candlemas  it  was  the  same  thing,  and  at 
Easter.  And  when  Pentecost  came,  the  common  people 
who  were  present,  and  saw  Arthur  pull  out  the  sword, 
cried  with  one  voice  that  he  was  their  King,  and  they 
would  kill  any  man  who  said  differently.  Then  rich  and 
poor  fell  on  their  knees  before  him,  and  Arthur  took  the 
sword  and  offered  it  upon  the  altar  where  the  Archbishop 
stood,  and  the  best  man  that  was  there  made  him  Knight. 
After  that  the  crown  was  put  on  his  head,  and  he  swore 
to  his  lords  and  commons  that  he  would  be  a  true  King, 
and  would  do  them  justice  all  the  days  of  his  life. 


THE  QUESTING  BEAST 


Bur  Arthur  had  many  battles  to  fight  and  many  Kings 
to  conquer  before  he  was  acknowledged  lord  of  them 
all,  and  often  he  would  have  failed  had  he  not  listened 
to  the  wisdom  of  Merlin,  and  been  helped  by  his  sword 
Excalibur,  which  in  obedience  to  Merlin's  orders  he 
never  drew  till  things  were  going  ill  with  him.  Later 
it  shall  be  told  how  the  King  got  the  sword  Excalibur, 
which  shone  so  bright  in  his  enemies'  eyes  that  they  fell 
back,  dazzled  by  the  brightness.  Many  Knights  came  to 
his  standard,  and  among  them  Sir  Ban,  King  of  Gaul 
beyond  the  sea,  who  was  ever  his  faithful  friend.  And  it 
was  in  one  of  these  wars,  when  King  Arthur  and  King 
Ban  and  King  Bors  went  to  the  rescue  of  the  King  of 
Cameliard,  that  Arthur  saw  Guenevere,  the  King's 
daughter,  whom  he  afterwards  wedded.  By  and  by  King 
Ban  and  King  Bors  returned  to  their  own  country  across 
the  sea,  and  the  King  went  to  Carlion,  a  town  on  the 
river  Usk,  where  a  strange  dream  came  to  him. 

He  thought  that  the  land  was  over-run  with  gryphons 
and  serpents  which  burnt  and  slew  his  people,  and  he 
made  war  on  the  monsters,  and  was  sorely  wounded, 
though  at  last  he  killed  them  alL  When  he  awoke  the 
remembrance  of  his  dream  was  heavy  upon  him,  and  to 
shake  it  off  he  summoned  his  Knights  to  hunt  with  him, 
and  they  rode  fast  till  they  reached  a  forest  Soon  they 
spied  a  hart  before  them,  which  the  King  claimed  as  his 
game,  and  he  spurred  his  horse  and  rode  after  him.  But 
the  hart  ran  fast  and  the  King  could  not  get  near  it,  and 
9 


10  THE   QUESTING  BEAST 

the  chase  lasted  so  long  that  the  King  himself  grew 
heavy  and  his  horse  fell  dead  under  him.  Then  he  sat 
under  a  tree  and  rested,  till  he  heard  the  baying  of 
hounds,  and  fancied  he  counted  as  many  as  thirty  of 
them.  He  raised  his  head  to  look,  and,  coming  towards 
him,  saw  a  beast  so  strange  that  its  like  was  not  to  be 
found  throughout  his  kingdom.  It  went  straight  to  the 
well  and  drank,  making  as  it  did  so  the  noise  of  many 
hounds  baying,  and  when  it  had  drunk  its  fill  the  beast 
went  its  way. 

While  the  King  was  wondering  what  sort  of  a  beast 
this  could  be,  a  Knight  rode  by,  who,  seeing  a  man  lying 
\inder  a  tree,  stopped  and  said  to  him:  'Knight  full  of 
thought  and  sleepy,  tell  me  if  a  strange  beast  has  passed 
this  way  ? ' 

'  Yes,  truly,'  answered  Arthur,  '  and  by  now  it  must  be 
two  miles  distant.  What  do  you  want  with  it  ? ' 

'  Oh  sir,  I  have  followed  that  beast  from  far/  replied 
he,  <  and  have  ridden  my  horse  to  death.  If  only  I  could 
find  another  I  would  still  go  after  it.'  As  he  spoke  a 
squire  came  up  leading  a  fresh  horse  for  the  King,  and 
when  the  Knight  saw  it  he  prayed  that  it  might  be  given 
to  him,  '  for,'  said  he,  '  I  have  followed  this  quest  this 
twelvemonth,  and  either  I  shall  slay  him  or  he  will  slay 
me.' 

'  Sir  Knight,'  answered  the  King,  '  you  have  done  your 
part ;  leave  now  your  quest,  and  let  me  follow  the  beast 
for  the  same  time  that  you  have  done.'  '  Ah,  fool ! '  replied 
the  Knight,  whose  name  was  Pellinore,  '  it  would  be  all  in 
vain,  for  none  may  slay  that  beast  but  I  or  my  next  of 
kin ' ;  and  without  more  words  he  sprang  into  the  saddle. 
'  You  may  take  my  horse  by  force,'  said  the  King,  '  but  I 
should  like  to  prove  first  which  of  us  two  is  the  better 
horseman.' 

'  Well,'  answered  the  Knight,  '  when  you  want  me, 
come  to  this  spring.  Here  you  will  always  find  me,'  and, 
spurring  his  horse,  he  galloped  away.  The  King  watched 


THE    QUESTIXG   BEAST  13 

him  till  he  was  out  of  sight,  then  turned  to  his  squire 
and  bade  him  bring  another  horse  as  quickly  as  he 
could.  While  he  was  waiting  for  it  the  wizard  Merlin 
came  along  in  the  likeness  of  a  boy,  and  asked  the 
King  why  he  was  so  thoughtful 

«I  may  well  be  thoughtful,'  replied  the  King,  'for  I 
have  seen  the  most  wonderful  sight  in  all  the  world.' 

'  That  I  know  well,'  said  Merlin,  * for  I  know  all  your 
thoughts.  But  it  is  folly  to  let  your  mind  dwell  on  it, 
for  thinking  will  mend  nothing.  I  know,  too,  that 
Uther  Pendragon  was  your  father,  and  your  mother 
was  the  Lady  Igraine.' 

'How  can  a  boy  like  you  know  that?'  cried  Arthur, 
growing  angry ;  but  Merlin  only  answered, '  I  know  it 
better  than  any  man  living,'  and  passed,  returning  soon 
after  in  the  likeness  of  an  old  man  of  fourscore,  and 
sitting  down  by  the  well  to  rest. 

'  What  makes  you  so  sad  ? '  asked  he. 

'  I  may  well  be  sad,'  replied  Arthur,  '  there  is  plenty 
to  make  me  so.  And  besides,  there  was  a  boy  here  who 
told  me  tilings  that  he  had  no  business  to  know,  and 
among  them  the  names  of  my  father  and  mother.' 

'He  told  you  the  truth.'  said  the  old  man,  'and  if 
you  would  hare  listened  he  could  have  told  you  still 
more :  how  that  your  sister  shall  have  a  child  who  shall 
destroy  you  and  all  your  Knights.' 

'  Who  are  you  ? '  asked  Arthur,  wondering. 

'  I  am  Merlin,  and  it  was  I  who  came  to  you  in  the 
likeness  of  a  boy.  I  know  all  things;  how  that  you 
shall  die  a  noble  death,  being  slain  in  battle,  while  my 
end  will  be  shameful,  for  I  shall  be  put  alive  into  the 
earth.' 

There  was  no  time  to  say  more,  for  the  man  brought 
up  the  King-'s  horse  and  he  mounted,  and  rode  fast  till 
he  came  to  Carlion. 


THE  SWORD  EXCALIBUR 

KING  ARTHUR  had  fought  a  hard  battle  with  the  tallest 
Knight  in  all  the  land,  and  though  he  struck  hard  and 
well,  he  would  have  been  slain  had  not  Merlin  enchanted 
the  Knight  and  cast  him  into  a  deep  sleep,  and  brought 
the  King  to  a  hermit  who  had  studied  the  art  of  healing, 
and  cured  all  his  wounds  in  three  days.  Then  Arthur  and 
Merlin  waited  no  longer,  but  gave  the  hermit  thanks  and 
departed. 

As  they  rode  together  Arthur  said,  '  I  have  no  sword/ 
but  Merlin  bade  him  be  patient  and  he  would  soon  give 
him  one.  In  a  little  while  they  came  to  a  large  lake, 
and  in  the  midst  of  the  lake  Arthur  beheld  an  arm  rising 
out  of  the  water,  holding  up  a  sword.  '  Look  ! '  said  Mer- 
lin, 'that  is  the  sword  I  spoke  of.'  And  the  King  looked 
again,  and  a  maiden  stood  upon  the  water.  '  That  is  the 
Lady  of  the  Lake,'  said  Merlin,  'and  she  is  coming  to 
you,  and  if  you  ask  her  courteously  she  will  give  you 
the  sword.'  So  when  the  maiden  drew  near  Arthur 
saluted  her  and  said,  'Maiden,  I  pray  you  tell  me 
whose  sword  is  that  which  an  arm  is  holding  out  of 
the  water?  I  wish  it  were  mine,  for  I  have  lost  my 
sword.' 

'  That  sword  is  mine,  King  Arthur,'  answered  she, 
'and  I  will  give  it  to  you,  if  you  in  return  will  give 
me  a  gift  when  I  ask  you.' 

'By  my  faith,'  said  the  King,  ' I  will  give  you  what- 
ever gift  you  ask.'  '  Well,'  said  the  maiden, '  get  into  the 
14 


i 


•-•; 


THE  SWORD  EXCALIBUR  15 

.barge  yonder,  and  row  yourself  to  the  sword,  and  take 
it  and  the  scabbard  with  yon.'  For  this  was  the  sword 
Excalibar.  'As  for  my  gift,  I  will  ask  it  in  my  own 
time.'  Then  King  Arthur  and  Merlin  dismounted  from, 
their  horses  and  tied  them  up  safely,  and  went  into  the 
barge,  and  when  they  came  to  the  place  where  the  arm 
was  holding  the  sword  Arthur  took  it  by  the  handle,  and 
the  arm  disappeared.  And  they  brought  the  sword  back 
to  land.  As  they  rode  the  King  looked  lovingly  on  his 
sword,  which  Merlin  saw,  and,  smiling,  said, '  Which  do 
you  like  best,  the  sword  or  the  scabbard?'  < I  like  the 
sword,'  answered  Arthur.  'You  are  not  wise  to  say 
that,'  replied  Merlin,  'for  the  scabbard  is  worth  ten  of 
the  sword,  and  as  long  as  it  is  buckled  on  yon  you  will 
lose  no  blood,  however  sorely  yon  may  be  wounded.7 
So  they  rode  into  the  town  of  Carlion,  and  Arthur's 
Knights  gave  them  a  glad  welcome,  and  said  it  was  a  joy 
to  serve  under  a  King  who  risked  his  life  as  much  as  any 
common  man. 


THE  STORY  OF  SIR  BALIN 


IN  those  days  many  Kings  reigned  in  the  Islands  of  the 
Sea,  and  they  constantly  waged  war  upon  each  other,  and 
on  their  liege  lord,  and  news  came  to  Arthur  that  Ryons, 
King  of  North  Wales,  had  collected  a  large  host  and  had 
ravaged  his  lands  and  slain  some  of  his  people.  When 
he  heard  this,  Arthur  rose  in  anger,  and  commanded  that 
all  lords,  Knights,  and  gentlemen  of  arms  should  meet 
him  at  Camelot,  where  he  would  call  a  council,  and  hold 
a  tourney. 

From  every  part  the  Knights  flocked  to  Camelot, 
and  the  town  was  full  to  overflowing  of  armed  men 
and  their  horses.  And  when  they  were  all  assembled, 
there  rode  in  a  damsel,  who  said  she  had  come  with 
a  message  from  the  great  Lady  Lile  of  Avelion,  and 
begged  that  they  would  bring  her  before  King  Arthur. 
When  she  was  led  into  his  presence  she  let  her  mantle  of 
fur  slip  off  her  shoulders,  and  they  saw  that  by  her  side 
a  richly  wrought  sword  was  buckled.  The  King  was 
silent  with  wonder  at  the  strange  sight,  but  at  last  he 
said,  '  Damsel,  why  do  you  wear  this  sword  ?  for  swords 
are  not  the  ornaments  of  women.'  '  Oh,  my  lord,' 
answered  she,  '  I  would  I  could  find  some  Knight  to  rid 
me  of  this  sword,  which  weighs  me  down  and  causes  me 
much  sorrow.  But  the  man  who  will  deliver  me  of  it 
must  be  one  who  is  mighty  of  his  hands,  and  pure  in  his 
deeds,  without  villainy,  or  treason.  If  I  find  a  Knight 
such  as  this,  he  will  draw  this  sword  out  of  its  sheath, 
16 


THE  STORY  OF  SIR  BALIN  17 

and  he  only.  For  I  have  been  at  the  Court  of  King 
Ry  ons,  and  he  and  his  Knights  tried  with  all  their  strength 
to  draw  the  sword  and  they  could  not.' 

*  Let  me  see  if  I  can  draw  it,'  said  Arthur,  *  not 
because  I  think  myself  the  best  Knight,  for  well  I  know 
how  far  I  am  outdone  by  others,  but  to  set  them  an 
example  that  they  may  follow  me.'  With  that  the  King 
took  the  sword  by  the  sheath  and  by  the  girdle,  and 
pulled  at  it  with  all  his  force,  but  the  sword  stuck  fast. 
'Sir,'  said  the  damsel,  'you  need  not  pull  half  so  hard, 
for  he  that  shall  pull  it  out  shall  do  it  with  little  strength.' 
'  It  is  not  for  me,'  answered  Arthur, '  and  now.  my  Barons, 
let  each  man  try  his  fortune.'  So  most  of  the  Knights 
of  the  Bound  Table  there  present  pulled,  one  after 
another,  at  the  sword,  but  none  could  stir  it  from  its 
sheath.  '  Alas !  alas  ! '  cried  the  damsel  in  great  grief,  •  I 
thought  to  find  in  this  Court  Knights  that  were  blameless 
and  true  of  heart,  and  now  I  know  not  where  to  look  for 
them.'  « By  my  faith,'  said  Arthur,  « there  are  no  better 
Knights  in  the  world  than  these  of  mine,  but  I  am  sore 
displeased  that  they  cannot  help  me  in  this  matter.' 

Now  at  that  time  there  was  a  poor  Knight  at  Arthurs 
Court  who  had  been  kept  prisoner  for  a  year  and  a 
half  because  he  had  slain  the  King's  cousin.  He  was 
of  high  birth  and  his  name  was  Balin,  and  after  he  had 
suffered  eighteen  months  the  punishment  of  his  misdeed 
the  Barons  prayed  the  King  to  set  him  free,  which 
Arthur  did  willingly.  When  Balin,  standing  apart, 
beheld  the  Knights  one  by  one  try  the  sword,  and 
fail  to  draw  it,  his  heart  beat  fast,  yet  he  shrank  from 
taking  his  turn,  for  he  was  meanly  dressed,  and  could  not 
compare  with  the  other  Barons.  But  after  the  damsel 
had  bid  farewell  to  Arthur  and  his  Court,  and  was  setting 
out  on  her  journey  homewards,  he  called  to  her  and  said, 
'  Damsel,  I  pray  you  to  suffer  me  to  try  your  sword,  as 
well  as  these  lords,  for  though  I  am  so  poorly  clothed, 
my  heart  is  as  high  as  theirs.'  The  damsel  stopped  and 
2 


18  THE  STORY  OF  SIR  BALIN 

looked  at  him,  and  answered, '  Sir,  it  is  not  needful  to  put 
you  to  such  trouble,  for  where  so  many  have  failed  it  is 
hardly  likely  that  you  will  succeed.'  'Ah!  fair  damsel,' 
said  Balm,  '  it  is  not  fine  clothes  that  make  good  deeds.' 
'  You  speak  truly,'  replied  the  damsel,  <  therefore  do  what 
you  can.'  Then  Balin  took  the  sword  by  the  girdle  and 
sheath,  and  pulled  it  out  easily,  and  when  he  looked  at 
the  sword  he  was  greatly  pleased  with  it.  The  King  and 
the  Knights  were  dumb  with  surprise  that  it  was  Balin 
who  had  triumphed  over  them,  and  many  of  them  envied 
him  and  felt  anger  towards  him.  '  In  truth,'  said  the 
damsel,  '  this  is  the  best  Knight  that  I  ever  found,  but, 
Sir,  I  pray  you  give  me  the  sword  again.' 

'  No/  answered  Balin,  '  I  will  keep  it  till  it  is  taken 
from  me  by  force.'  '  It  is  for  your  sake,  not  mine,  that  I 
ask  for  it,'  said  the  damsel, '  for  with  that  sword  you  shall 
slay  the  man  you  love  best,  and  it  shall  bring  about  your 
own  ruin.'  '  I  will  take  what  befalls  me,'  replied  Balin, 
'  but  the  sword  I  will  not  give  up,  by  the  faith  of  my 
body.'  So  the  damsel  departed  in  great  sorrow.  The 
next  day  Sir  Balin  left  the  Court,  and,  armed  with  his 
sword,  set  forth  in  search  of  adventures,  which  he  found 
in  many  places  where  he  had  not  thought  to  meet  with 
them.  In  all  the  fights  that  he  fought,  Sir  Balin  was  the 
victor,  and  Arthur,  and  Merlin  his  friend,  knew  that 
there  was  no  Knight  living  of  greater  deeds,  or  more 
worthy  of  worship.  And  he  was  known  to  all  as  Sir  Balin 
le  Savage,  the  Knight  of  the  two  swords. 

One  day  he  was  riding  forth  when  at  the  turning  of  a 
road  he  saw  a  cross,  and  on  it  was  written  in  letters  of 
gold,  '  Let  no  Knight  ride  towards  this  castle.'  Sir  Balin 
was  still  reading  the  writing  when  there  came  towards 
him  an  old  man  with  white  hair,  who  said,  '  Sir  Balin  le 
Savage,  this  is  not  the  way  for  you,  so  turn  again  and 
choose  some  other  path.'  And  so  he  vanished,  and  a 
horn  blew  loudly,  as  a  horn  is  blown  at  the  death  of  a 
beast.  '  That  blast,'  said  Balin,  '  is  for  me,  but  I  am  still 


THE  STORY  OF  SIR  BALIN 


19 


alive/  and  he  rode  to  the  castle,  where  a  great  company 
of  Knights  and  ladies  met  him  and  welcomed  him,  and 


made  him  a  feast.     Then  the  lady  of  the  castle  said  to 
him, « Knight  with  the  two  swords,  you  must  now  fight  a 


20  THE  STORY  OF  SIR  BALIN 

Knight  that  guards  an  island,  for  it  is  our  law  that  no 
man  may  leave  us  without  he  first  fight  a  tourney.' 

'  That  is  a  bad  custom,'  said  Balin,  ( but  if  I  must  I 
am  ready ;  for  though  my  horse  is  weary  my  heart  is 
strong.' 

'  Sir,'  said  a  Knight  to  him,  '  your  shield  does  not  look 
whole  to  me  ;  I  will  lend  you  another ' ;  so  Balm  lis- 
tened to  him  and  took  the  shield  that  was  offered,  and 
left  his  own  with  his  own  coat  of  arms  behind  him.  He 
rode  down  to  the  shore,  and  led  his  horse  into  a  boat, 
which  took  them  across.  When  he  reached  the  other 
side,  a  damsel  came  to  him  crying,  '0  Knight  Balin, 
why  have  you  left  your  own  shield  behind  you  ?  Alas ! 
you  have  put  yourself  in  great  danger,  for  by  your  shield 
you  should  have  been  known.  I  grieve  over  your  doom, 
for  there  is  no  man  living  that  can  rival  you  for  courage 
and  bold  deeds.' 

'  I  repent,'  answered  Balin,  '  ever  having  come  into 
this  country,  but  for  very  shame  I  must  go  on.  What- 
ever befalls  me,  either  for  life  or  death,  I  am  ready  to 
take  it.'  Then  he  examined  his  armour,  and  saw  that  it 
was  whole,  and  mounted  his  horse. 

As  he  went  along  the  path  he  beheld  a  Knight  come 
out  of  a  castle  in  front,  clothed  in  red,  riding  a  horse  with 
red  trappings.  When  this  red  Knight  looked  on  the  two 
swords,  he  thought  for  a  moment  it  was  Balin,  but  the 
shield  did  not  bear  Balin's  device.  So  they  rode  at  each 
other  with  their  spears,  and  smote  each  other's  shields  so 
hard  that  both  horses  and  men  fell  to  the  ground  with 
the  shock,  and  the  Knights  lay  unconscious  on  the  ground 
for  some  minutes.  But  soon  they  rose  up  again  and  be- 
gan the  fight  afresh,  and  they  fought  till  the  place  was 
red  with  their  blood,  and  they  had  each  seven  great 
wounds.  'What  Knight  are  you  ? '  asked  Balin  le  Savage, 
pausing  for  breath,  '  for  never  before  have  I  found  any 
Knight  to  match  me.'  '  My  name,'  said  he,  <  is  Balan, 
brother  to  the  good  Knight  Balin.' 


THE  STORY  OF  SIR  BALIN  23 

'  Alas  ! '  cried  Balin, '  that  I  should  ever  live  to  see  this 
day,'  and  he  fell  back  fainting  to  the  ground.  At  this 
sight  Balan  crept  on  his  feet  and  hands,  and  pulled  off 
Balin's  helmet,  so  that  he  might  see  his  face.  The  fresh 
air  revived  Balin,  and  he  awoke  and  said:  '0  Balan, 
my  brother,  you  have  slain  me,  and  I  you,  and  the  whole 
world  shall  speak  ill  of  us  both.' 

'Alas,'  sighed  Balan,  'if  I  had  only  known  you!  I 
saw  your  two  swords,  but  from  your  shield  I  thought 
you  had  been  another  Knight.' 

'  Woe  is  me ! '  said  Balin, '  all  this  was  wrought  by  an 
unhappy  Knight  in  the  castle,  who  caused  me  to  change 
my  shield  for  his.  If  I  lived,  I  would  destroy  that  castle 
that  he  should  not  deceive  other  men.' 

'You  would  have  done  well,'  answered  Balan,  'for 
they  have  kept  me  prisoner  ever  since  I  slew  a  Knight 
that  guarded  this  island,  and  they  would  have  kept  you 
captive  too.'  Then  came  the  lady  of  the  castle  and  her 
companions,  and  listened  as  they  made  their  moan.  And 
Balan  prayed  that  she  would  grant  them  the  grace  to  lie 
together,  there  where  they  died,  and  their  wish  was 
given  them,  and  she  and  those  that  were  with  her  wept 
for  pity. 

So  they  died  ;  and  the  lady  made  a  tomb  for  them,  and 
put  3alan's  name  alone  on  it,  for  Balin's  name  she  knew 
not.  But  Merlin  knew,  and  next  morning  he  came  and 
wrote  it  in  letters  of  gold,  and  he  ungirded  Balin's  sword, 
and  unscrewed  the  pommel,  and  put  another  pommel  on 
it,  and  bade  a  Knight  that  stood  by  handle  it,  but  the 
Knight  could  not.  At  that  Merlin  laughed.  'Why  do 
you  laugh  ?  '  asked  the  Knight.  '  Because,'  said  Merlin, 
'  no  man  shall  handle  this  sword  but  the  best  Knight  in 
the  world,  and  that  is  either  Sir  Lancelot  or  his  son 
Sir  Galahad.  With  this  sword  Sir  Lancelot  shall  slay 
the  man  he  loves  best,  and  Sir  Gawaine  is  his  name.' 
And  this  was  later  done,  in  a  fight  across  the  seas. 

All  this  Merlin  wrote  on  the  pommel  of  the  sword. 


24  THE  STORY  OF  SIR  BALIN 

Next  he  made  a  bridge  of  steel  to  the  island,  six  inches 
broad,  and  no  man  could  pass  over  it  that  was  guilty  of 
any  evil  deeds.  The  scabbard  of  the  sword  he  left  on 
this  side  of  the  island,  so  that  Galahad  should  find  it. 
The  sword  itself  he  put  in  a  magic  stone,  which  floated 
down  the  stream  to  Camelot,  that  is  now  called  Win- 
chester. And  the  same  day  Galahad  came  to  the  river, 
having  in  his  hand  the  scabbard,  and  he  saw  the  sword 
and  pulled  it  out  of  the  stone,  as  is  told  in  another 
place. 


HOW  THE  ROUND  TABLE  BEGAN 

IT  was  told  in  the  story  of  the  Questing  Beast  that  King 
Arthur  married  the  daughter  of  Leodegrance,  King  of 
Cameliard,  but  there  was  not  space  there  to  say  how  it 
came  about  And  as  the  tales  of  the  Bound  Table  are 
full  of  this  lady,  Queen  Guenevere,  it  is  well  that  any- 
body who  reads  this  book  should  learn  how  she  became 
Queen, 

After  King  Arthur  had  fought  and  conquered  many 
enemies,  he  said  one  day  to  Merlin,  whose  counsel  he 
took  all  the  days  of  his  life, '  My  Barons  will  let  me  have 
no  rest,  but  bid  me  take  a  wife,  and  I  hare  answered 
them  that  I  shall  take  none,  except  you  advise  me.' 

'It  is  well,7  replied  Merlin,  'that  you  should  take 
a  wife,  but  is  there  any  woman  that  you  love  better 
than  another  ?  *  '  Yes,'  said  Arthur,  '  I  love  Guenevere, 
daughter  of  Leodegrance,  King  of  Cameliard,  in  whose 
house  is  the  Round  Table  that  my  father  gave  him.  This 
maiden  is  the  fairest  that  I  have  ever  seen,  or  ever  shall 
see.'  '  Sir,'  answered  Merlin,  '  what  you  say  as  to  her 
beauty  is  true,  but,  if  your  heart  was  not  set  on  her,  I 
could  find  you  another  as  fair,  and  of  more  goodness, 
than  she.  But  if  a  man's  heart  is  once  set  it  is  idle  to 
try  to  turn  him.'  Then  Merlin  asked  the  King  to  give 
him  a  company  of  Knights  and  esquires,  that  he  might 
go  to  the  Court  of  King  Leodegrance  and  tell  him  that 
King  Arthur  desired  to  wed  his  daughter,  which  Arthur 
did  gladly.  Therefore  Merlin  rode  forth  and  made  all 
25 


26        HOW  THE  ROUND   TABLE  BEGAN 

the  haste  he  could  till  he  came  to  the  Castle  of  Cameliard, 
and  told  King  Leodegrance  who  had  sent  him  and  why. 

'That  is  the  best  news  I  have  ever  had,'  replied 
Leodegrance,  'for  little  did  I  think  that  so  great  and 
noble  a  King  should  seek  to  marry  my  daughter.  As  for 
lands  to  endow  her  with,  I  would  give  whatever  he  chose ; 
but  he  has  lands  enough  of  his  own,  so  I  will  give  him 
instead  something  that  will  please  him  much  more, 
the  Round  Table  which  Uther  Pendragon  gave  me,  where 
a  hundred  and  fifty  Knights  can  sit  at  one  time.  I 
myself  can  call  to  my  s.ide  a  hundred  good  Knights,  but  I 
lack  fifty,  for  the  wars  have  slain  many,  and  some  are 
absent.'  And  without  more  words  King  Leodegrance 
gave  his  consent  that  his  daughter  should  wed  King 
Arthur.  And  Merlin  returned  with  his  Knights  and 
esquires,  journeying  partly  by  water  and  partly  by  land, 
till  they  drew  near  to  London. 

When  King  Arthur  heard  of  the  coming  of  Merlin  and 
of  the  Knights  with  the  Eound  Table  he  was  filled  with 
joy,  and  said  to  those  that  stood  about  him,  'This  news 
that  Merlin  has  brought  me  is  welcome  indeed,  for  I 
have  long  loved  this  fair  lady,  and  the  Round  Table  is 
dearer  to  me  than  great  riches.'  Then  he  ordered  that 
Sir  Lancelot  should  ride  to  fetch  the  Queen,  and  that 
preparations  for  the  marriage  and  her  coronation  should 
be  made,  which  was  done.  '  Now,  Merlin,'  said  the 
King,  '  go  and  look  about  my  kingdom  and  bring  fifty  of 
the  bravest  and  most  famous  Knights  that  can  be  found 
throughout  the  land.'  But  no  more  than  eight  .and 
twenty  Knights  could  Merlin  find.  With  these  Arthur 
had  to  be  content,  and  the  Bishop  of  Canterbury  was 
fetched,  and  he  blessed  the  seats  that  were  placed  by  the 
Round  Table,  and  the  Knights  sat  in  them.  '  Fair  Sirs,' 
said  Merlin,  when  the  Bishop  had  ended  his  blessing, 
'  arise  all  of  you,  and  pay  your  homage  to  the  King.'  So 
the  Knights  arose  to  do  his  bidding,  arid  in  every  seat 
was  the  name  of  the  Knight  who  had  sat  on  it,  written  in 


HOW  THE  RQUXD  TABLE  BEGAN      27 

letters  of  gold,  but  two  seats  were  empty.  After  that 
young  Gawaine  came  to  the  King,  and  prayed  him  to 
make  him  a  Knight  on  the  day  that  he  should  wed 
Gnene  vere.  '  That  I  will  gladly/  replied  the  King,  «  for 
you  are  my  sister's  son.* 

As  the  King  was  speaking,  a  poor  man  entered  the 
Court,  bringing  with  him  a  youth  about  eighteen  years  old, 
riding  on  a  lean  mare,  though  it  was  not  the  custom  for 
gentlemen  to  ride  on  mares.  'Where  is  King  Arthur  ?* 
asked  the  man.  '  Yonder/  answered  the  Knights.  *  Have 
you  business  with  him?'  'Yea/  said  the  man.  and  he 
went  and  bowed  low  before  the  King :  '  I  hare  heard, 
O  King  Arthur,  flower  of  Knights  and  Kings,  that  at  the 
time  of  your  marriage  you  would  give  any  man  the  gift 
he  should  ask  for.' 

'  That  is  truth,1  answered  the  King,  'as  long  as  I  do  no 
wrong  to  other  men  or  to  my  kingdom.7 

'I  thank  you  for  your  gracious  words,7  said  the  poor 
man;  "the  boon  I  would  ask  is  that  you  would  make  my 
sou  a  Knight*  « It  is  a  great  boon  to  ask,7  answered  the 
King.  'What  is  your  name?' 

4  Sir,  my  name  is  Aries  the  cowherd.' 

'Is  it  yon  or  your  son  that  has  thought  of  this 
honour?' 

'It  is  my  sou  who  desires  it.  and  not  I/  replied  the 
man.  *  I  hare  thirteen  sons  who  tend  cattle,  and  work  in 
the  fields  if  I  bid  them;  but  this  boy  will  do  nothing  but 
shoot  and  cast  darts,  or  go  to  watch  battles  and  look  on 
Knights,  and  all  day  long  he  beseeches  me  to  bring  him  to 
you,  that  he  may  be  knighted  also.7 

'What  is  your  name?'  said  Arthur,  turning  to  the 


'Sir,  my  name  is  Tor.' 

'  Where  is  your  sword  that  I  may  knight  you  ? '  said 
the  King. 

'It  is  here,  my  lord.' 

'Take  it   out  of  its    sheath/  said  the  King,  'and 


28        HOW  THE  ROUND   TABLE  BEGAN 

require  me  to  make  you  a  Knight.'  Then  Tor  jumped  off 
his  mare  and  pulled  out  his  sword,  and  knelt  before  the 
King,  praying  that  he  might  be  made  a  Knight  and  a 
Knight  of  the  Round  Table. 

'  As  for  a  Knight,  that  I  will  make  you,'  said  Arthur, 
smiting  him  in  the  neck  with  the  sword,  '  and  if  you  are 
worthy  of  it  you  shall  be  Knight  of  the  Kound  Table.' 
And  the  next  day  he  made  Gawaine  Knight  also. 


THE  PASSING   OF  MERLIN 


SIR  TOR  proved  before  long  by  his  gallant  deeds  that  he 
was  worthy  to  sit  in  one  of  the  two  empty  seats  of  the 
Round  Table.  Many  of  the  other  Knights  went  out  also 
in  search  of  adventures,  and  one  of  them,  Sir  Pellinore, 
brought  a  damsel  of  the  lake  to  Arthur's  Court,  and  when 
Merlin  saw  her  he  fell  in  love  with  her,  so  that  he 
desired  to  be  always  in  her  company.  The  damsel 
laughed  in  secret  at  Merlin,  but  made  use  of  him  to  tell 
her  all  she  would  know,  and  the  wizard  had  no  strength 
to  say  her  nay,  though  he  knew  what  would  come  of  it. 
For  he  told  King  Arthur  that  before  long  he  should  be 
put  into  the  earth  alive,  for  all  his  cunning.  He  likewise 
told  the  King  many  things  that  should  befall  him,  and 
warned  him  always  to  keep  the  scabbard  as  well  as  the 
sword  Excalibur,  and  foretold  that  both  sword  and  scab- 
bard should  be  stolen  from  him  by  a  woman  whom  he 
most  trusted.  '  You  will  miss  my  counsel  sorely,'  added 
Merlin,  'and  would  give  all  your  lands  to  have  me 
back  again.'  <  But  since  you  know  what  will  happen,' 
said  the  King,  (  you  may  surely  guard  against  it.'  '  No,' 
answered  Merlin,  '  that  will  not  be.'  So  he  departed  from 
the  King,  and  the  maiden  followed  him  whom  some  call 
Nirnue  and  others  Vivien,  and  wherever  she  went  Merlin 
went  also*. 

They  journeyed  together  to  many  places,  both  at  home 

and  across  the  seas,  and  the  damsel  was  wearied  of  him, 

and  sought  by  every  means  to  be  rid  of  him,  but  he  would 

not  be  shaken  off.     At  last  these  two  wandered  back  to 

31 


32  THE  PASSING   OF  MERLIN 

Cornwall,  and  one  day  Merlin  showed  Vivien  a  rock 
under  which  he  said  great  marvels  were'hidden.  Then 
Vivien  put  forth  all  her  powers,  and  told  Merlin  how  she 
longed  to  see  the  wonders  beneath  the  stone,  and,  in  spite 
of  all  his  wisdom,  Merlin  listened  to  her  and  crept  under 
the  rock  to  bring  forth  the  strange  things  that  lay  there. 
And  when  he  was  under  the  stone  she  used  the  magic  he 
had  taught  her,  and  the  rock  rolled  over  him,  and  buried 
him  alive,  as  he  had  told  King  Arthur.  But  the  damsel 
departed  with  joy,  and  thought  no  more  of  him  :  now  that 
she  knew  all  the  magic  he  could  teach  her. 


HOW   MORGAN    LE    FAT    TRIED    TO    KILL 
KEfO  ARTHUR 

KTSG  AKTHFR  had  a  sister  called  Morgan  le  Far.  who 
was  skilled  in  magic  of  all  sorts,  and  hated  her  brother 
because  he  had  slain  in  battle  a  Knight  whom  she  loved. 
But  to  gain  her  own  ends,  and  to  revenge  herself  upon 
the  King,  she  kept  a  smiling  face,  and  let  none  guess  the 
passion  in  her  heart. 

One  day  Morgan  le  Fay  went  to  Queen  Guenevere, 
and  asked  her  leave  to  go  into  the  country.  The  Queen 
wished  her  to  wait  till  Arthur  returned,  but  Morgan  le 
Fay  said  she  had  had  bad  news  and  could  not  wait. 
Then  the  Queen  let  her  depart  without  delay. 

Early  next  morning  at  break  of  day  Morgan  le  Fay 
mounted  her  horse  and  rode  all  day  and  all  night,  and 
at  noon  next  day  reached  the  Abbey  of  nuns  where 
King  Arthur  had  gone  to  rest,  for  he  had  fought  a  hard 
battle,  and  for  three  nights  had  slept  but  little.  'Do  not 
wake  him,'  said  Morgan  le  Fay,  who  had  come  there 
knowing  she  would  find  him,  'I  will  rouse  him  myself 
when  I  think  he  has  had  enough  sleep/  for  she  thought 
to  steal  his  sword  Excalibur  from  him.  The  nuns  dared 
not  disobey  her,  so  Morgan  le  Fay  went  straight  into  the 
room  where  King  Arthur  was  lying  fast  asleep  in  his  bed, 
and  in  his  right  hand  was  grasped  his  sword  Excalibur. 
When  she  beheld  that  sight,  her  heart  f elL  for  she  dared 
not  touch  the  sword,  knowing  well  that  if  Arthur  waked 
and  saw  her  she  was  a  dead  woman.  So  she  took  the 
scabbard,  and  went  away  on  horseback. 
3  33 


